Dr Asangba Tzudir
The strict division of labor in the traditional fold between men and women has been a subject of debate and criticism today, where womenfolk not only have the potential but have been doing almost everything and much better than men excelling in every field of human activity. Though men ‘boasts’ of honoring and protecting women even today, for instance, menfolk guarding the womenfolk from behind, with spears, shields and daos while returning after work in the field, in actuality within the ‘domestication’ and ‘jailing’ of women as seen even from the division of labor, the kind of protection accorded to women was all for the protection of valor, prestige, dignity and honor of the menfolk. It was dishonor and shameful on the part of the men if they were not able to prevent their ‘enemies’ from taking the heads of their womenfolk.
If not for the cultural domestication, Naga women would have been baptized along with the men much earlier. It was difficult for women to create their own narrative within a naturalized setting other than to bow and even propagate in defense. This cultural and traditional roots coupled with domestication was so strong that women especially the mothers from their own domesticated confines were at the fore of prohibiting man and more so women from becoming Christians. While Mary Mead knew about the importance of liberating and empowering women, the cultural context of those days made her focus on the need of schooling for women. Even then, there was resistance to girl schooling for the simple fact that household chores will be affected.
Genesis 2:21-22 (ESV) says, “so the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a women and brought her to the man.” For God saw that Adam had no helper fit for him. Then began the mistranslation and misinterpretation in tune with tradition and culture where women for so long were domesticated, and in context, became the “second sex” subordinate to man and not as equals in the likeness and image of God. The taking of the man’s rib in the creation may be seen not as a symbol of subordinate or a help but rather as a symbol of companionship. Even today there are the mothers that liberate their daughters, so also those that domesticate their daughters within the culturally constructed image of an ideal women.
Naga women continue to struggle for space in the political domain in relation to decision making. During a consultative meeting of the state government with the tribal hohos of the state, the Chief Minister while talking about reservation for women in Urban Local Bodies, stated that “we cannot become prisoners of our traditions, or let them stand in the way of good modern practices to come in.” And added that “it is fallacious to say that the status of women in Naga Society is very good or high, while on the other hand there is a near nil representation of women in the decision making elected bodies. The issue has remained controversial for a long time with many opining that it “impinges on traditions and customs.”
Considering the changing times and circumstances what the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said needs serious reflection – “we cannot become prisoners of our tradition.” For so long in so many ways culture and traditional practices continue to keep the Naga women imprisoned and Naga society cannot and should not continue to stay in chains.
Minister for HE & Tribal Affairs, Temjen Imna Along in his keynote during a recent panel discussion on Women reservation in ULB said that, “We cannot be stronger than women by depriving them of the opportunity to build and to grow” and added that, “men can always be stronger by elevating women.” The path to empowering and elevating women especially in the political domain as part of decision making is not by letting them enter into the fray through an ‘equal contest’ but through reservation in consideration of the status of women in the political domain today for better representation, and where being part of the decision making bodies, the ideal is to recreate the companionship that looks up to each other in creating a balanced and harmonious society and for the well being of everyone.
However, there are dangers associated. One may think why the serpent approached Eve instead of Adam. Being in a patriarchal society, women should not fall into the trap of becoming women patriarchs, or else the voice of the voiceless women will continue to be misrepresented and unheard, while also derailing the sweetness of the ‘man-woman companionship’.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial to The Morung Express. Comments can be emailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
